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Thursday, October 30, 2014

The Latest from GadgetLite

The Latest from GadgetLite


5 Misconceptions about barcodes

Posted: 30 Oct 2014 03:14 AM PDT

At this point, barcodes are far from being a novelty factor. As a matter of fact, they have been utilized on a global scale in different industries for a few decades in a row. The technology behind this concept is continuously involving, permitting companies to perfect their inventory management, reduce expenses, minimize losses, boost their profit and ultimately maximize their odds of success on any market. Barcodes are fascinating, especially when you get familiar with their delightful history.

 

 

According to About.com, the first patent for a barcode system was issued to two ingenious inventors, Bernard Silver and Joseph Woodland, in 1952. Their version resembled a bull's-eye symbol and comprised several concentric circles. In 1974, the first UPC barcode scanner was implemented in an Ohio-based grocery store and managed to demonstrate the commercial use of barcodes. Three decades later, several barcode systems still prove their ever-growing utility. Combined with other ingenious innovations, like iPad-based POS systems, they enable people to gain full control over their inventory and their entire business. Despite the fact that barcodes aren't exactly a recent advancement, there are still several misconceptions related to their use and benefits that may puzzle numerous novices who are not familiar with this topic. Here are only five of the most common wrong ideas about barcodes.

  1. All Barcodes Are the Same. As a matter of fact, there are numerous types of barcode symbologies. According to Scientific Computing, a symbology basically represents the description of a particular barcode (and also the way in which it is generated and the way in which it is displayed). Apart from this, symbologies also specify the type of data that can be encoded. For example, certain barcodes store numerical data, while others comprise alphanumerical information.
  2. Barcodes Are Expensive. This is perhaps one of the most dangerous misconceptions that stand in the way of new business owners who would be eager to find the simplest method to control their inventory. Producing new barcode labels is a fairly inexpensive process, especially when you count on your own equipment (barcode printer, barcode scanner, labels and so on). The final conclusion of a study entitled "Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Hospital Bar Code Solution" published by JAMA Internal Medicine is that the implementation of a bar code solution can drastically reduce the number of pharmacy dispensing mistakes and trigger a positive ROI (return on investment) for the facility. In this particular case, the authors of the study mention a net benefit of 3.4 million dollars witnessed five years after the implementation.
  3. A Barcode System Is Difficult to Implement and Barcodes Only Go on Paper. With so many online tutorials that you can consult before adopting a certain barcode system, it is almost impossible to wander in the dark while trying to make a first step in this direction. Furthermore, all the equipment that you may need to get the job done comes with a clear set of instructions. Using barcode printer and its associated software you can design, customize and print barcode labels and assign them to your products. Next, you would just have to read the data comprised by your barcodes using the scanner of your choice.

Think that barcodes can only go on paper? Wrong again! Modern printers enable you to print on a great variety of materials, including paper, synthetics, glass, laminates and more. Thermal transfer is a printing technique that enables you to add barcodes to a plethora of materials, compared to direct thermal, a second method that significantly limits your options in this regard, according to Street Directory.

  1. I Wouldn't Be Able to Customize My Barcodes. If you think that customization options are off limits, then you're terribly wrong. Once you use a good printer and its associated software, likes the ones brought to you by Shopify, you will manage to design and fully customize your labels to make them meet your specific needs and aesthetic demands.
  2. If I Do Rely on a Barcode System, I Don't Need a Fancy POS Solution for My Store. If you have already implemented a barcode system, this means that you have made a giant first step towards a seamless store management. However, at this point you can only maintain your competitive edge by implementing a POS solution that allows you to accept cash and credit card payments in your store or on the go. This type of iPad-based system is modern and versatile and lets you do business anytime, anywhere. Moreover, it ensures a pleasant checkout experience, keeps your clients close and also lets you weigh the strengths and weaknesses of your store and make smarter business decisions. Believe it or not, it actually gets better! The POS solution that acts like a unified platform will also give you access to several apps that let you profit from marketing, shipping and accounting tips and tricks. All in all, this all-in-one POS solution seems to be the perfect choice for people who wish to gain full control over their online and offline businesses.

[Image via av1611.org]

Difference between web conferencing and video conferencing

Posted: 30 Oct 2014 03:05 AM PDT

Web conferencing is no longer a technical innovation that is specifically for larger enterprises. This advancement has been expanded to facilitate even small and mid-size enterprises as high bandwidth and high-speed connections are available for anyone, all over the country. More than 24 percent of households today have a high speed connection, compared to what was used back in 2004.

As far as video conferencing is concerned, this means of technology is extensively used by the youth of today. Statistics suggest something worth considering: almost 79 percent of the survey respondents used video conferencing for communicating with their friends in dedicated video conferencing rooms, according to the Interact Technology website.

Although both web and video conferencing have the same objective in connecting individuals in a single platform, there is a thin line in between what differentiates each of these technologies. Following are the differences that make the purpose of communication a bit different in each case.

Roles Played By Web Conferencing

In web conferencing, employees actively participate and collaborate, making teams more instant and effective. The 24/7 access and availability of users means steady, on-going input and removes the hassle of managing time and cost of users. In addition, companies use web conferencing to increase their social networking as this will give them an edge over others in their industries. This helps them gain an immediate advantage in the battle to achieve the bottom-line results while using the fewest resources.

There is another benefit of web conferencing that is mostly known as the "Green Advantage." It has been proven that business travel can account for nearly 50 percent of the company's carbon footprint. For the corporations who have adopted the green marketing strategy, web conferencing can work as a significant component in terms of making a positive contribution.

Roles Played By Video Conferencing

In contrast to web conferencing, video conferencing uses the advantages of video and audio recording services to connect its audience. This is, however, done at a smaller scale in comparison to a web conference, where many individuals can unite at a single unit. Such a conference is done for interviewing employees in recruitment, sharing information, or to give a briefing about something.

With the passage of time, this means of communication has upgraded and it now also provides facilities such as sharing documents, using whiteboards for explanations, and computer-displayed information to enhance discussion of important issues.

Other differences that deserve a mention are the following:

  • Equipment Requirement

In a video conference, you need to have a webcam and a microphone to communicate with individuals through a computer. However, in a web conference, there has to be software that everyone involved needs to install before getting connected with each other.

  • Cost

In comparison to video conferencing, web conferencing usually has a lower cost attached to it. In web conferencing you don't need to pay for the bandwidth and good lighting. However, video conferencing has been focusing on its cost effective measures and is leaning towards web conferences as a competitors.

  • Sight

The advantage that video conference has over web conferencing is that it can help its users focus on the other participants through their body language and attire instead of only communicating through online messaging or voice call. But if the point of meeting is to convey important information, video conferencing may not be necessary. It's less important in that case to present yourself in front of an audience than it is for you to simply share the information. In this case, web conferencing is preferred.

However, today these differences are fading away as video conferencing – like Blue Jeans's system – has been upgraded with fast paced trends of technology. The clarity has come up to the mark of a web conference. In other words, these advances are allowing even households to access the same kinds of communication facilities that were previously the exclusive property of businesses.

The Bottom Line

In a nutshell, where face to face meetings via video conferencing create a strong impact in terms of communicating beyond borders, the significance of web conferencing cannot be neglected. Although both are different means of communication, both have very crucial roles to play in any particular scenario. For instance, in a situation like interviewing a candidate, video conferencing is more likely preferred by companies as the employer would like to know the candidate's personality, their individual attitude, and values. But in another situation when information about the company's position is needed, web conferencing can help. It can be done through online messaging or audio calling. Thus, you need to be aware of the usage and benefits of both web and video conferencing to grow and expand in the market.

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